Italy allocates €22M to support art publishing and museum services

Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini signed a decree allocating €22 million to support specialized art and tourism publishing, as well as providers of guide, audioguide, and educational services in museums. This follows earlier funds for entertainment professionals, canceled exhibitions, small publishers, and translators. Of the total, €10 million goes to art publishers (ATECO 58.11.00) meeting specific criteria: at least 10 new titles in 2019, 30% catalog in tourism, 30% in art and facsimile reproductions, and at least two art exhibition catalogs in 2019. Another €2 million supports periodicals (ATECO 58.11, 58.14, 58.19) registered as newspapers by March 1, 2019, with at least 70% content on art and exhibitions. The remaining €10 million supports guide, audioguide, and educational service providers at cultural institutions (ATECO 91.02 or 91.03). Applications must be submitted electronically within 10 days of the public notice, to be published within five days of the decree's registration by the Directorate General for Libraries and Copyright (for publishing) and the Directorate General for Museums (for service providers). The decree responds to an appeal by Artribune on October 30, 2020, urging support for all cultural sector activities. Franceschini stated the government's commitment to helping businesses in culture and tourism, particularly hard hit by the pandemic.